GPA coach confident of progressing in CAF champions’ league

Gambia
Ports Authority (GPA) head coach Alagie Sarr has said he is 100 percent
confident his side would progress to the next stage of the CAF Champions
League.

Sarr
made this remark on Sunday following his side’s 1-nil win over Ivorian side
Sewe Sport in their first leg of the CAF champions league preliminary round
played at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

Their
target will be to get an away goal in the return leg, he said, adding that they
were satisfied not losing at home.

He
admitted that they missed a lot of chances but was quick to add: “It is no risk
heading into the return leg.”

In
football, he averred, one can lose at home and win away, saying they will go
back and prepare for the return leg.

The
game plan in Abidjan will be different from that of the first leg because this
was their first time seeing Sewe Sport play, he went on.

Sewe
Sport have skillful players with fast wing players as well as a good defence,
he further said, adding: “Their strength is on their flanks but we will work to
stop them”.

Coach
Sarr noted that his side played “extremely well” in the first half but had to
be careful and not expose the team during the second period since they were
being confronted by the wind.

He
highlighted that most of their players are good but are young and as such
should be given time.

Mauril
Hasak Njoya, Sewe Sport head coach, expressed dissatisfaction about the result
but said they would do their best to turn around the tie in Abidjan.

He
described GPA as a very good team that played very good football in the first
leg. He congratulated them on their victory.

He
went on to describe his players as good when they put the ball down.

Asked
if his team could turn the tie around come the second leg, he said: “we can say
we will turn the tie around, as we lose because this is football”, emphasizing
that they are hopeful of winning.

Concluding,
he said they expected to meet a strong team and were not surprised that
happened.